You may want to brace yourself... for your smartphone and mobile devices are a petri dish accommodating and sustaining a thriving micro bacterial ecosystem. Dreadfully frightening isn't it?

In 2009, the prominent journal "Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials" conducted a study wherein they tested the various cell phones brands (iPhone, Blackberry, Samsung, Motorola, HTC, Nokia, Sony, LG, etcc..) of 200 of their staff members. The results were alarming a whopping 94.5 percent of the devices were severely contaminated with various bacterial strains - many of which were resistant to multiple antibiotics. Moreover, the study yielded that over 60% of the bacteria thriving on the phones were ultimately transferred to the users.

When one considers that most users take their cell phones with them everywhere... including the bathroom. A startling 95% percent of common folk admitted to routinely using their mobile device, cell phones, tablets, laptops, notebooks and other media playing devices during toilet sessions... you can discover the statistics from a study conducted by 11 Mark in my previous blog on 'Cell Phone and Bathroom Usage'.

Microbes have been existing long before any other life form appeared on our planet. Their inherent ability to thrive and multiply in adverse conditions and hostile environments has fuelled their prolific growth and widespread presence throughout the world. Studies indicate their propensity to subsist in both highly populated regions and on public surfaces. Our entire bodies as well as public bathrooms, phones, computers, park benches, restaurant kitchen counters and tables are all ideal hosts harbouring a magnitude of microbe strains - with paper currency being found to have one of the highest concentration of bacteria. As such, it is plain to see that we are engaged in a true germ warfare... protecting our physical health against bacterial invasion.

Wireless devices are excellent breeding grounds for bacteria... as they generate the requisite heat which helps promote and facilitate breeding. Furthermore, the majority of people do not think of routinely disinfecting their mobile devices, to this end, typical cell phones and mobile devices have more bacteria than toilet seats. I would highly recommend protecting both their devices and ultimately themselves with iSkin protective accessories' revolutionary Microban technology. Built-in to products during the manufacturing process, Microban antimicrobial product protection inhibits the growth of microbes such as bacteria, mold and mildew that can cause stains , embarrassing odors and deterioration of both cell phones and other mobile devices.

It was also reported that while older flip phones have more nooks and crannies for bacteria to hide in, the flat touch screens of current smartphones are not immune to bacteria. Numerous studies have found colonies of streptococcus, staphylococcus and diphtheroids on people's cell phones. And there's even been one reported case of a person contracting an MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) infection – a so-called flesh-eating bug – from a phone. Now that is downright nasty!

For the most part, though, the bacteria that reside on your smartphone and mobile devices come from your own skin and mouth. It's other people's germs you have to worry about; think about that the next time you set your phone down in a public place or share your phone with someone. You're taking in their germs, as well as the bacteria they've picked up just by using their cell phones out in world. You're not only touching the phone, but also everyone and everything that phone has touched.